Pitch system for a wind turbine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9631605-B2
Application number	US-201113989340-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2011
Priority date	Nov 26, 2010
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A pitch system ( 20 ) for rotating a blade ( 4 ) of a wind turbine relative to a hub ( 6 ) generally comprises a bearing ( 22 ) having an inner bearing ring ( 30 ) configured to be mounted to the hub and an outer bearing ring ( 32 ) configured to be mounted to the blade. A first coupling member ( 24 ) positioned between the hub and inner bearing ring extends radially inward. A second coupling member ( 26 ) positioned between the blade and outer bearing ring extends radially inward and over the inner bearing ring. A drive system ( 28 ) includes a first drive member ( 34 ) coupled to the first coupling member and a first driven member ( 36 ) coupled to the second coupling member. The first drive member is configured to move the first driven member to rotate the outer bearing ring relative to the inner bearing ring and thereby pitch the blade.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pitch system for rotating a blade of a wind turbine relative to a hub, the pitch system comprising:
a bearing including an inner bearing ring configured to be mounted to the hub and an outer bearing ring configured to be mounted to the blade, the outer bearing ring being rotatable relative to the inner bearing ring to pitch the blade relative to the hub;
a first coupling member configured to be positioned between the hub and inner bearing ring and extend radially inward of the hub;
a second coupling member configured to be positioned between the blade and outer bearing ring, the second coupling member extending radially inward and over the inner bearing ring; and
a drive system having a first drive member coupled to the first coupling member and a first driven member coupled to the second coupling member, the first drive member being configured to move the first driven member to rotate the outer bearing ring relative to the inner bearing ring,
wherein the first drive member comprises a hydraulic cylinder and the first driven member comprises a piston rod coupled to the first drive member.

2. The pitch system according to claim 1 , wherein the drive system further comprises a second drive member coupled to the first coupling member and a second driven member coupled to the second coupling member.

3. The pitch system according to claim 2 , wherein the first and second driven members are arranged parallel to each other.

4. The pitch system according to claim 2 , wherein the second coupling member includes an annular portion overhanging the inner bearing ring and a beam portion spanning an opening defined by the annular portion, the first and second driven members being coupled to the beam portion.

5. The pitch system according to claim 4 , wherein the beam portion extends along a main axis, the first drive member and first driven member are arranged along a first axis that intersects the main axis at a location over the outer bearing ring, and the second drive member and second driven member are arranged along a second axis that intersects the main axis at a location over the outer bearing ring.

6. The pitch system according to claim 2 , wherein the first and second driven members are arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular a rotational axis of the bearing, the plane being offset from the bearing in an axial direction.

7. The pitch system according to claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the second coupling member extends in the axial direction as it extends radially inward from the outer bearing ring so as to provide a conical shape with sloping sides.

8. The pitch system according to claim 2 , wherein the second drive member comprises a hydraulic cylinder and the second driven member comprises a piston rod coupled to the first drive member.

9. The pitch system according to claim 2 , wherein the first and second drive members are movably coupled to the first coupling member.

10. The pitch system according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second drive members are rotatably coupled to the first coupling member so as to allow rotation about an axis parallel to a rotational axis of the bearing.

11. The pitch system according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing includes first, second, and third rows of rolling bodies between the inner bearing ring and outer bearing ring.

12. The pitch system according to claim 11 , wherein the outer bearing ring is generally T-shaped and the inner bearing ring is generally C-shaped, the inner bearing ring being positioned around a portion of the outer bearing ring so as to define first and second overlap regions, the first row of rolling bodies being positioned in the first overlap region, the second row of rolling bodies being positioned in the second overlap region, and the third row of rolling bodies being positioned between the first and second overlap regions.

13. The pitch system according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing is a 2-ring pitch bearing.

14. The pitch system according to claim 1 , wherein the first drive member is coupled to the first coupling member at a location configured to be positioned radially inward of the hub.

15. The pitch system according to claim 1 , wherein the inner bearing ring and outer bearing ring lie within the same axial plane.

16. A pitch system for rotating a blade of a wind turbine relative to a hub, the pitch system comprising:
a bearing including an inner bearing ring configured to be mounted to the hub and an outer bearing ring configured to be mounted to the blade, the outer bearing ring being rotatable relative to the inner bearing ring to pitch the blade relative to the hub;
a first coupling member configured to be positioned between the hub and inner bearing ring and extend radially inward of the hub;
a second coupling member configured to be positioned between the blade and outer bearing ring, the second coupling member extending radially inward and over the inner bearing ring; and
a drive system having a first drive member coupled to the first coupling member and a first driven member coupled to the second coupling member, the first drive member being configured to move the first driven member to rotate the outer bearing ring relative to the inner bearing ring,
wherein the inner bearing ring is configured to be mounted to the hub by a plurality of inner bolts extending through the inner bearing ring, the first coupling member, and a portion of the hub, and further wherein the second coupling member includes a plurality of holes substantially aligned with at least some of the inner bolts to provide access thereto.

17. A pitch system for rotating a blade of a wind turbine relative to a hub, the pitch system comprising:
a bearing including an inner bearing ring configured to be mounted to the hub and an outer bearing ring configured to be mounted to the blade, the outer bearing ring being rotatable relative to the inner bearing ring to pitch the blade relative to the hub;
a first coupling member configured to be positioned between the hub and inner bearing ring and extend radially inward of the hub;
a second coupling member configured to be positioned between the blade and outer bearing ring, the second coupling member extending radially inward and over the inner bearing ring; and
a drive system having a first drive member coupled to the first coupling member and a first driven member coupled to the second coupling member, the first drive member being configured to move the first driven member to rotate the outer bearing ring relative to the inner bearing ring,
wherein the first coupling member comprises a plate member configured to be secured to the hub with bolts and substantially cover an inside area of the bearing, and wherein the plate member includes at least one opening configured to provide access to the hub.

18. A wind turbine, comprising:
a hub;
a blade rotatably mounted to the hub; and
a pitch system positioned between the blade and the hub, the pitch system comprising:
a bearing including an inner bearing ring mounted to the hub and an outer bearing ring mounted to the blade, the outer bearing ring being rotatable relative to the inner bearing ring to pitch the blade relative to the hub;
a first coupling member positioned between the hub and inner bearing ring and extending radially inward of the hub;
a second coupling member positioned between the blade and outer bearing ring, the second coupling member extending radially inward and over the inner bearing ring; and
a drive system having a first drive member coupled to

Assignees

• Neubauer Jesper Lykkegaard
• Mølgaard Jeppesen Ole
• Rowntree Robert
• Christoffersen Leif
• Bøttcher Peter
• Madden Gerry
• Vestas Wind Sys As

Inventors

• Neubauer Jesper Lykkegaard
• Mølgaard Jeppesen Ole
• Rowntree Robert
• Christoffersen Leif
• Bøttcher Peter
• Madden Gerry

Classifications

• F03D7/0224 Primary

  Adjusting blade pitch · CPC title

• Y02E10/723

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F03D1/0691

  of the hub · CPC title

• F03D1/0658

  Arrangements for fixing wind-engaging parts to a hub · CPC title

• F03D80/70

  Bearing or lubricating arrangements · CPC title